Videoconferencing

Features/Coverage

Group video conferencing is a "same time, different places" technology. Students are required to meet at specific times and places. Predominant features include fully two-way audio and video channels. Participants must use specific video conferencing equipment and only sites that are on the University Wide Area Network (campuses) or associated with a GCI School Access connection (High Schools) may participate. Schools may have additional requirements for participation (such as, that the site can participate only if one of their School students is participating)

Getting Started

When not to Use

  • If your students reside in villages or locations outside the reach of broadband communications (beyond campuses or GCI connected schools)
  • When your students would prefer the flexibility and convenience of anytime, anyplace learning.
  • When other teaching tools are more efficacious, inexpensive, or effective.

When to Use

  • When it's important to share visual information during the class session, such as in a math class.
  • When your students reside in different locations but would benefit by a class structure of meeting at a regular time.
  • When the ability for students to see both their instructor and each other is a critical factor in building your community of learners.
  • When it is important for students to build their learning together in congregate activities.
  • When the learning styles of your students are better engaged through audio and visual prompts and responses that have a feeling of immediacy.

Using in Combination

  • Use with the Internet to add additional connection channels to the two-way video.
    • Content channels- for computer resources ppt, html, flash, etc
    • Polling/assessment tools
    • Additional return channels for multiple student feedback during sessions
  • Use the Video to originate a program or guest speaker for the statewide satellite TV distribution system.
  • Use the satellite system to distribute a one-way video signal to locations that are outside the reach of broadband

What to do first

  • Decide if group video conferencing is an appropriate tool to achieve your instructional goals.
  • Determine if you have access to a video conference origination point.
  • Find out who is your local support person for video conferencing.
  • Contact the Alaska Teleconfernecing Network to schedule the equipment and networks. Conference rooms are scheduled locally and each end point must be scheduled individually.

Projects/Schedules

Scheduling of video conferences is handled through the Alaska Teleconferencing Network. To schedule a conference, please call 1.800.910.9601 or send an email to ayatn@alaska.edu. ATN also acts as the single point of contact for cross-connecting the University and GCI School Access Video Networks. If you would like to schedule a conference at a School site, please confirm that the School facilities can be scheduled and then contact ATN to set up the network connections.

Help/Technical Training

Help

Technical Assistance

For issues concerning scheduling and connecting endpoints, UA wide area network(WAN) or statewide transmission issues, help with campus network wiring, help with video conferencing equipment at UAF campuses, or consultation and equipment installation, use the following contact information:

Best Practices

The Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education. First proposed by Chickering and Gamson over a decade ago, the Seven Principles have been widely adopted by colleges and Universities as a means to further the critical conversations about what best practices in education really mean. A copy of the original document can be found at: Seven Principles

A national online database of strategies for implementing the Seven Principles is maintained by the Teaching, Learning, and Technology Group at: TLT Seven Principles Library

Specific Best Practices for this technology can be found at: Best Practices in Video Conferencing.